Lifting device



Sept,a 16, 1947. 1.', MADLAND 2,427,566 LIFTING DEVICE l Filed NOV. 9, 1945 Patented Sept. 16, 1947 LIFTING DEVICE Thorvald Madland, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 9, 1943, Serial No. 509,586

11 Claims.

This invention relates to lifting devices and particularly to such devices for lifting and supporting car doors for sliding movement.

It is an object of this invention to provide lifting devices for sliding car doors which shall lie within the most critical tunnel clearance diagram so as to constitute a single standard.

A further object is to provide lifting devices for sliding car doors which shall eiect a reduction in the number of castings heretofore required and in cost.

A further object is to provide lifting devices for sliding car doors embodying operating levers and so constructed that the levers are maintained vertically.

A further object is to provide lifting devices for sliding car doors capable of lifting said doors with the application of an initially smaller force which shall progressively decrease as the door is lifted.

A further object is to provide lifting devices of the character stated embodying levers operable in either direction in a plane parallel to the doors.

Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a railway house car carrying a. sliding door equipped with a lifting device embodying the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of an end member of the connecting bars of the lifting device.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 to '7, inclusive, there is illustrated one embodiment of the instant invention which includes a pair of spaced rollers I and II. These rollers are rotatably mounted upon pins I2 and I3 and are preferably provided with roller bearings I4. The pins I2 and I3 extend through the rollers and have their inner and outer ends I and I6 in the form of rectangles, Yas more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Discs II and I8 are mounted upon the rectangular ends of the pins, preferably by a forced fit, so as to rotate with the pins.

The remote ends of connecting bars I9 and 20 are mounted upon the pins I2 and I3 on opposite sides of the rollers. 'I'he connecting bars are similar in construction so that description of one of them will suffice for the other. As more clearly appears in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the connecting bar I9 embodies a strap member 2l. At the end of the connecting bar adjacent to the roller is a yoke or housing 22 constituted by means of substantially Z-shaped plates 23 and 24 secured to the strap 2l as by means of rivets 25. The portion of the yoke lying on opposite sides of the roller is formed with openings 26 and 2 through which the pin I2 loosely extends so that the pin is capable of rotation relative to the yoke,

The adjacent ends of the connecting bars I 9 and 20, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, carry flat members 28 and 29 secured as by means of rivets to each 0f the straps of the connecting bars. One of these members is illustrated in Fig. '7 of the drawings and as there shown embodies an opening 30 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

With reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that the flat members 28 and 29 are ypartially overlapped transversely of the door and the openings 30 formed therein are partially alined. The vertical elongated element 3| of an actuating member 32 extends through the alined portions of the openings in the members 28 and 29. Inner and outer concentric trunnions 33 and 34 extend in opposite directions from the element 3l and serve to journal the actuating member upon a door. The outer trunnion 34 is reduced in section, as more clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, and is of a length to permit the mounting of an operating lever 35 thereon which lever, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is vertical and is maintained in such position by means ofthe construction of the adjacent ends of the connecting bars and the element 3| of the actuating member.

In the drawings the hereinabove described lifting device is shown applied to a sliding railway house car door indicated generally by the reference numeral 36. The door 36 selected for the purpose of illustrating the instant invention embodies a metallic panel 31 offset outwardly adjacent to its lower edge, as indicated at 38,

so as to form an outer vertical ange 39 oiset outwardly from the main plane of the panel. The vertical flange 39 is secured as by means of rivets to the upstanding leg 4D of a bottom Z- shaped reinforcing member 4|. The web 42 of this member extends inwardly so as to position the depending leg 43 in substantially the main plane of the panel. A backing plate 44 extending substantially the width of the door is secured to the panel 31 above the offset portion 38 and to the depending leg 43 of the Z-shaped member 4|, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the draw ings. The vertical margins of the flange 39 of the metallic panel and of the backing plate 44 are secured to vertical reinforcing members 4 5 and 46 as by means of rivets, this securement with respect to one edge of the door being more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The hereinabove described construction at the lower portion of the door provides in eiect a box section within which the lifting device, with the exception of the operating lever, is housed.

Referring to Figs. l; 2 and 4, the construction by means of which the lifting deviceisoperatively associated with the door is more clearly illustrated. This construction embodies substantially Z-shaped plate members 41 and 48 having flanges 49 and 5U secured to the upstanding leg 40 of the bottom Z-shaped member 4|, as morev clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The webs 5| and 52 of these members extend inwardly so as to position the fianges 53 and 54 against the backing plate 44. The flangesA 53 and 54 are thus spaced from the upstanding leg 49 and the rollers I and are adapted to-be received in the space so provided.

The upstanding leg 40 of the bottom Z-shaped member 4| and the flanges 53 and 54 are formed with transversely alined inclined slots 55 and 56, these slots preferably being inclined in opposite directions, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. Within these slots the'disc'si'l and |8 are disposedso as to'be capableof engaging and rolling along the upper edgesof theslots.

The 'actuating membe`r-32V` is'journa-lled within the b'ox section at the lower marginof the door, as moreA clearly shownv in Fig; Y of theV drawings;

For this purpose' plate membersA 5'! and 58 are secured to the upstanding leg 40 of the bottom Z-shaped member 4|. These plate members are provided with spaced flanges 59 and'v60 between which the vertical elongatedelement 31 of the actuating member is received. The an'ges59 and 60 are also formed with openings 6| and 62 serving as bearings for the trunnio'n's. 33 and; 34 of the actuating member. pears in Figs, 1 and 5 of the drawings, the metallic panel 31 is. offset inwardly as indicated at 63 so that the outer face of the operating lever 35' does not project substantially beyond the door.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this embodiment the pins have a forced t within theyokes of the connecting bars and the discs are rotatably mounted upon the ends of the pin. The association between the discs 4and the inclined slots formed in the upstanding leg 49 and in the Z-shaped members 5| and 52, is the same as hereinabove described. Y

The door is illustrated in its lowered position in Fig. 1 of the drawings'. Considering the first described embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that the door may be lifted and supported upon the rollers up'on movement of the lever 35 in the direction i'n which it is desired Asmore clearly apr to move the door. This movement of the operating lever in either direction effects rotation of the actuating member and of the vertically elongated element 3| thereof. Engagement between this element and the openings 3U in the members 28 and 29 of the connecting bars causes these bars to move toward each other regardless of the direction of movement of the lever. Movement of the connecting bars causes the rollers I0 and to move toward each other along track B4 supported by means of a plurality of brackets secured in any desired manner to reinforcing member 66 for the side sill 61. This movement of the rollers results in rotation of the pins and discs xedly mounted thereon under and along the upper edges of the slots 55 and 56 and, due to the inclination of these slots, results in lifting of the door and the support thereof upon the rollers. When so supported the door may be moved in either direction along the track. Upon release of the operating lever the door gravitates to frictional engagement with the track which is established by the engagement thereof with the web 42 of the bottom Z-shaped member 4|.

Similar operation willsecure lifting of the door by means of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. With this embodiment, however, the pins remain fixed; and the discs rotate relative thereto under and along the upper edges of the slots.

The connection of the instant invention between the connecting bars and the actuating member not only serves to maintain the lever mounted on the actuating member vertical, but reduces the initial force required to lift the door. ".lhisfollows from the fact that the distance from the axis of rotation to. the points of contact betweenlthe vertically elongated element of the actuating member and the adjacent parts of the connecting bars is less than with other modes of connection. Moreover, in the described mode of connection the force required to continue lifting of the door decreases as the vertically elongated member approaches the horizontal.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehen'ded within this invention which is to be limited only by theVv scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A lifting device for sliding car doors com'- prisingspaced rollers and roller housingspins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said pins extending through said housings, discs mounted upon each of said pins on oppsite sides of said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, oppositely inclined slots formed in said members, said discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, connecting bars, anv actuating member having trunnions adapted to be journalled in said door, the remote ends of said connecting bars being secured to said roller housings, the adjacent ends of said bars operatively engaging said actuating member, and a lever mounted upon said actuating member, said lever being operable to impartl rotation to said actuating' member and movement to said rollers toward each other to impart a lifting force to said door.

2. A lifting device for sliding car 'doors com' prising spaced rollers androller housings; pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said pins extending through said housings discs fixedly mounted upon each of said pins on opposite sides of said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on o-pposite sides of said housings, oppositely inclined slots formed in said members, said discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, connecting bars, an actuating member having trunnions adapted to be journalled in said door, the remote ends of said connecting bars being loosely secured to said roller housings, the adjacent ends of said bars operatively engaging said actuating member, and a lever mounted upon said actuating member, said lever being operable to impartrotation to said actuating member and movement to said rollers toward each -other to impart a lifting force to said door.

3. A lifting device for sliding car doors cornprising spaced rollers and roller housings, pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said pins extending through said housings, discs rotatably mounted upon each of said pins on opposite sides of said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, oppositely inclined slots formed in said members, said discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, connecting bars, an actuating member having trunnions adapted to be journalled in said door, the remote ends of said connecting bars being xedly secured to said roller housings, the adjacent ends of said bars operatively engaging said actuating member, and a lever mounted upon said actuating member, said lever being operable to impart rotation to said actuating member and movement to said rollers toward each other to impart a lifting force to said door.

4. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising spaced rollers and roller housings, pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said pins extending through said housings, discs mounted upon each of said pins on opposite sides of said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, inclined slots formed in said members, said discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, means connecting said pins for simultaneous movement, and means for imparting movement to said pins.

5. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising a roller, and roller housing, a pin rotatably mounting said roller in said housing, said pin extending through said housing, discs mounted upon said pin on opposite sides of said roller, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housing, inclined slots formed in said members, said discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, and means engaging said pin for imparting movement thereto.

6. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising spaced rollers and roller housings, means rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said means extending through said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, oppositely inclined slots in said members, said means extending into said slots and being adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, connecting bars, an actuating member having trunnions adapted to be journalled in said door, the remote ends of said connecting bar being secured to said roller housings, the adjacent ends of said bars operatively engaging said actuating member, and a lever mounted upon said actuating member, said lever being operable to move said rollers toward each other to impart a lifting force to said door.

7. A lifting devicefor sliding car doors cornprising spaced rollers and roller housings, means rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said means extending through said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, inclined slots in said members, said means extending into said slots and being adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, means secured to said roller housings and connecting said rollers for simultaneous movement, and means for imparting movement to said rollers,

8. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising spaced rollers and roller housings, pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings. said pins extending through said housings, discs mounted upon each of said pins on opposite sides of said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, oppositely inclined slots in said members, said discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, connecting bars, an actuating member adapted to be journalled in said door, the remote ends of said bars being secured to said roller housings, the adjacent ends of said bars being overlapped and provided with openings, said actuating member having a vertically arranged element positioned in said openings and adapted to engage and impart movement to said bars toward each other upon operation of said actuating member, and a ver. tically disposed lever mounted on said actuating member, said lever being operable in either direction.

9. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising spaced rollers and roller housings, pins rotatably mounting said rollers in said housings, said pins extending through said housings, discs mounted upon each of said pins on opposite sides of said housings, members adapted to be secured to a said door on opposite sides of said housings, oppositely inclined slots in said members, said `discs being disposed in said slots and adapted to roll along the upper edges thereof, connecting bars, an actuating member adapted to be journalled in said door, the remote ends of said bars being secured to said housings, the adjacent ends of said bars being overlapped, said actuating member having an element adapted to engage the adjacent ends of said bars and impart movement thereto toward each other upon operation of said actuating member in either direction, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating member, said lever being operable in either direction.

10. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising spaced roller assemblies, connecting bars, the remote ends of said bars being secured to said roller assemblies, the adjacent ends of said bars being overlapped, an actuating member for imparting movement to said bars, means adapted to journal said actuating member in a said door, means on said actuating member adapted to engage the adjacent ends of said bars and impart movement thereto toward each other upon operation of said actuating member in either direction, and a vertically disposed lever mounted on said actuating member, said lever being operable i either direction.

l1. A lifting device for sliding car doors comprising spaced roller assemblies, connecting bars,

andaV vertically disposed lever mounted upon said;

journal means, opposed sides of said openingsin said baren'gagingpsaid cam and retaining said lever in vvertical position.

THQRVALD MALDLAND.

REFERENCES CITEn' The following; references are of record in the ie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namey Date 1,943,823 Heinen Jan. 16, 1934 1,720,898 Heinen et al July 16, 1929 2,274,878 Willoughby ,Mar. 3, 1942 1,154,370 Burke Sept. 21, 1915 418,530 Moore Dec. 31, 1889 938,823 Buddle e Nov. 2, 1909 1,026,207 Johnson May 14, 1912 2,347,255 Ditchfield Apr, 25, 1944 2,055,807V Tobin Sept. 129, 1936 

